Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna Welcomes Government's Decision to Restore Fort Bengħisa

Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna welcomes the government's decision announced last week to allocate the early 20th century British coastal defence work - Fort Benghisa to Heritage Malta for restoration and opening to public. This move is highly commendable especially when seen against the background of other similar decisions taken recently by the state to reclaim back significant military heritage assests such as Fort Bingemma, Fort Tigne, Fort Manoel and the promise to restore Fort Campbell - the last coastal fort compeleted by the British just before WW2.

Fort Benghisa is the second last coastal fort to be compeletd by the British between 1910 and 1912 which qualifies it as the only Edwardian fort in Malta. It was armed with two 6 inch and two 9.2 inch breech loading guns guarding the right extremity of Marsaxlokk harbour with its arc of fire also covering a large part of the southwestern coast of Malta.

FWA augurs well to Heritage Malta in its difficult task and offers its support where needed. Unfortunately, this fort like many others was misused by generations of legal tenants and squatters and was left too rot for far too long resulting in the loss of significant original elements from it. Nevertheless, Fort Benghisa remains worth preserving and kudos to HM for stepping in to carry it out.